Schwartz’s clutch trey enables Indians to outlast Mustangs in overtime, win MVIT championship

The Payson Seymour boys basketball team and coaching staff react to Blake Schwartz hitting a game-tying 3-pointer the regulation buzzer Monday night in the championship game of the MVIT in Mendon, Ill. | Addi Zanger photo

MENDON, Ill. — Everyone in the gymnasium knew sharp-shooter Blake Schwartz was going to take the shot with the Payson Seymour boys basketball team down three points in the final seconds of regulation, but it was up to his teammate, Nick Boone, to get him the ball. “Boone did a great job of being there…

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Photo gallery: Indians, Mustangs provide holiday drama with head-to-head title showdown

The Payson Seymour boys basketball team celebrates with the trophy after outlasting Mendon Unity 64-62 in the championship game of the MVIT on Monday night in Mendon, Ill. | Addi Zanger photo

MENDON, Ill. — The finish to the MVIT championship game was as exciting as any title game of any holiday tournament around. The Payson Seymour boys basketball team forced overtime with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Blake Schwartz and then outlasted Mendon Unity 64-62 to win the title. Southeastern took third place with a 55-52 victory…

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Mustangs survive challenge from Wildcats on opening night of MVIT

Mendon Unity senior guard Cristian Lopez, center, gets trapped by a pair of Western defenders during Thursday's game on the opening night of the MVIT. | Addi Zanger photo

MENDON, Ill. — Blake Arnsman scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter Thursday night and helped the Mendon Unity boys basketball team put away Western 66-61 in the opening round of the MVIT. Noah Voss and Adler Gray each scored 14 points for the Mustangs, who trailed by a point at halftime…

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Strong second half carries Mustangs to championship of MVIT

Unity's Cody Shaffer, right, fights for a loose ball during the MVIT championship game against Bushnell-Prairie City on Friday night in Mendon, Ill. | Addi Zanger photo

MENDON, Ill. — The halftime adjustments Unity boys basketball coach Keith Carothers made worked perfectly. The Mustangs trailed Bushnell-Prairie City 27-24 at halftime of Friday night’s championship game of the Mississippi Valley Invitational Tournament before taking the lead with a 17-point third quarter and holding the Spartans to a single point in the fourth quarter.…

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Dieker guides Payson Seymour to MVIT championship

MENDON, Ill. — Maybe it was the tournament championship his team had just won. Or the appreciative response he was hearing from those who packed the gym at Unity High School. Or just possibly it was him soaking in all that is good about high school athletics on a warm December night.  “This is what…

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Holiday tournament roundup: Semifinal matchups set at MVIT

MENDON, Ill. — The semifinal matchups are set for the Mississippi Valley Invitational Tournament with the host Unity boys basketball team exploding for 73 points. The Mustangs beat Pleasant Hill 73-58 as Vincent Magliocchetti scored 19 points. They will face Bushnell-Prairie City at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the high school gym. The Spartans beat Western…

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